SPIRITUAL HUNGER The physical body needs nourishment. The scientific Rule of Three says: Human beings can survive 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without warmth, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. When we get close to the limits of these threes: panic, sickness and suffering are followed by death. During the season of Lent, I’d like for us to focus on the nourishment of our spirit. On the back of our bulletin we have the explanation of Lent: the 40 days between Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6 and Holy Saturday, March 22, not counting Sundays. Lent is the time to get ready for Easter, March 23. But, listen closely: there can be no Easter, without Lent. Put another way, there is no resurrection, without death. Lent begins with ashes on our foreheads to remind us that we are sinners and we will die. Lent continues with Matthew chapter 4: Jesus is in the wilderness, fasting and praying to be spiritually strong to endure the passion, the suffering, that leads to Calvary’s cross and the grave. Satan did not want him to be strong, he wanted Jesus weak. So he tempted Christ to break his fast, to turn stones into bread. What’s wrong with that? On Wednesday we had a Love feast, with a variety of breads. They tasted great! What’s wrong with eating bread? Satan wanted Jesus to obey him and disobey God. Satan has never been a friend to humanity and he never will be. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. He’s like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Jesus knew that in order to be spiritually strong, we have to deny the cravings of the body. Isn’t it ironic? To be spiritually strong, we make ourselves physically weak? If Jesus, the son of God needed to fast and pray, what about us? How do we live in this world, and not be of this world? By denying ourselves, by observing the spiritual disciplines, the means of grace. Founder John Wesley listed them for the people called Methodists: consistent prayer, Bible study, worship, observing the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, Christian conversation, and fasting. Yes, fasting. Jesus fasted. We should fast. Fasting is self-denial of food or activity for a specific time & spiritual purpose. It’s not to lose weight, or free up some time. We fast for spiritual maturity, to draw closer to Jesus Christ. When we deprive our spirits of the basic necessities, the means of grace, the spiritual disciplines, these symptoms set in: panic, discouragement, anger, apathy, hatred, and ultimately, death. Jesus says, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after meat and potatoes for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). No? “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Acts 13:1-3 says that while worshiping, fasting and praying, the Holy Spirit spoke to the Antioch church, appointed and anointed Barnabas and Saul (Saul=Jewish, Paul=Roman), and sent them into the world to spread the gospel. How are we fed spiritually? By developing and maintaining a hunger and thirst for God. In John chapter 6, Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000+plus people with the word of God, and then their bodies with fish and bread. Then in verses 32-35 he says, “…My father gives you the true bread from heaven…. I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Do you hunger and thirst for the bread of heaven more than wheat, white, rye, pumpernickel? More than bottled water, sodas and juice? What lessons do we gain from today’s scriptures? Acts--That when we fast and pray the Holy Spirit speaks and moves within the body of Christ, and we gain power to witness, to share our faith; Matthew--when we hunger and thirst for righteousness Jesus promises to fill us up. John--Jesus becomes our food and drink throughout eternity. During this season of Lent, our challenge for this congregation is 100% participation in fasting. Our Ash Wednesday Call to Worship from Joel chapter 2 reminds us of God’s call: Gather the people together and call a solemn fast. Please complete your Lenten card. If for health reasons you cannot refrain from eating, there are other options: Give up snacks, exchange an hour on your knees instead of an hour watching TV or surfing the Internet, smoking, drinking alcohol, eating chocolate; how about lying, cheating, stealing, fornicating, committing adultery, gossiping, stinginess, unforgiveness, ungratefulness, being indifferent to those in need. The money you normally spend on yourself, give as an offering to the church. Complete your card. Write your sin on the strip. Bring them both forward. Place your sins on the cross where they belong, and leave them there. Place your Lenten card as a sacrificial vow in one of the baskets on the altar. Remember that during these 40 days of Lent, Jesus was tortured, humiliated and betrayed for you. He died for you, on a cross. On Easter, Resurrection Sunday, March 23, we will be ready to celebrate the empty tomb. Until then, stay near the cross. Amen. |